The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has decided to hear only urgent cases and has restricted entry in the court room to only lawyers, chartered accountants and one representative of the litigants due to the recent corona outbreak – COVID-19.
The ITAT (Income Tax Appellate Tribunal), also issued a similar order recently.
As per an advisory issued by the SAT, the lawyers have been asked to write to the registry of the tribunal before 9:30 a.m. each day for adjournments. This will be placed before the bench on the same day.
It is advised to the lawyers that there is no need to visit the court premises for seeking adjournments. These restrictions will be in place till March 27 and can be further extended. The tribunal has also changed its work timings to 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and has asked staff to come by 11:30 a.m. instead of the usual 9:30 a.m. to avoid rush-hour traffic.
Except for lawyers, chartered accountants, and departmental representatives who are going to act in the matter, only one representative of the litigant will be permitted in the courtroom.
